Israeli police are investigating a suspected terror attack south of Tel Aviv, after three empty buses exploded at different locations in the city of Bat Yam.

Parliament may not have been sitting, and the election may not have been called yet but could the Government have steeled itself for the ballot box after the events of this week?

Let's unpack the week that was. 

Guests:Melissa Clarke, Radio National Breakfast's Political Correspondent

Anna Henderson, the Chief Political Correspondent for SBS World News

James Massola, the national affairs editor for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers

"Reckless indifference" or "wilful bastardry".

They're the only things that former treasury secretary Ken Henry believes can explain the economic challenges and environmental catastrophe facing young Australians, thanks to successive governments and the voters who've supported them.

• GUEST: Ken Henry, former treasury secretary
• Producer: Jacqueline Breen

The federal government is weighing in on a push by some of Australia's largest retailers — including the supermarket giants — to scrap penalty rates for some workers.

The bid by the Australian Retailers Association to vary the general retail industry award is currently before the Fair Work Commissio, with the backing of Coles and Woolworths as well as chains such as Kmart, T-2, 7-Eleven and popular make-up store Mecca.

• GUEST: Murray Watt, minister for employment and workplace relations
• Producer: Jacqueline Breen

The federal government kicked this week off with a new housing policy borrowed from the opposition -- promising a temporary ban on foreign investors buying existing Australian homes.

Housing will be a battleground issue in the upcoming election.

• GUEST: Michael Sukkar, shadow housing and homelessness minister and leader of opposition business in the house
• Producer: Jacqueline Breen

Australia's top spy has delivered a bleak snap-shot of threats to national security and democracy in what he's described as his most "significant, serious, and sober" threat assessment to date.

Businesses and workers in Whyalla have been handed a lifeline, as the federal government moves to shore up the future of steelmaking in Australia.

Private hospital owner Healthscope has revealed it will be closing the maternity wards at Darwin and Hobart private hospitals within the next six months.

The public sector has been under the microscope in recent weeks, as governments seek to overhaul budgets and save billions of dollars.

Despite a number of controversies in the sector in the past 12 months, many of Australia's top universities have seen their global reputation ranking enhanced.